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Crofts attempted to handcuff Mr Yeboah but when he resisted he ordered him to 'get on the ground' before spraying him with Captor spray' - designed to cause a burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat.

Mr Yeboah, who is from Ghana, begged the officers moments before he was incapacitated and said: 'The way you guys are treating me, it's not right.

'I'm not a criminal, I'll go with you.'

He was handcuffed and taken to a van outside the station where he was further arrested for assault in relation to Crofts' broken thumbnail. Following the arrest Mr Yeboah was released without charge.

Two months before the arrest, Pc Crofts had received a final written warning for a 'disproportionate and unjustified use of force' in relation to the use of his Taser in June 2015.

Bosses had removed Crofts' Taser authority and ordered him to complete 'further conflict management training', but he had failed to undertake the training when Mr Yeboah was arrested.

The IPCC report said: 'There is no clear evidence as to how PC Crofts' thumbnail came to be broken.

A picture of Pc Crofts' broken nail

'PC Crofts had no evidence to suggest Mr Yeboah applied force directly to his thumb intentionally or recklessly causing his thumbnail to be broken.

'The thumbnail could have been broken while PC Crofts was attempting to handcuff Mr Yeboah or using the other restraint techniques detailed above.

'PC Crofts does not give any explanation as to why he thought Mr Yeboah had caused it above any other explanation.

'There was no evidence as stated above that Mr Yeboah was aggressive or threatening towards PC Crofts.'

After the arrest in June 2015 Crofts was ordered to undertake 'further conflict management training'.

After the officer was sacked Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock said: 'I support the decision of the independent misconduct panel to dismiss PC Peter Crofts with immediate effect.

'When police officers fail to retain control of a situation and do not exercise restraint, it understandably alarms the public and it is of extreme regret that a BTP officer has failed in his duty to be proportionate and cautious in his use of force.

'As seen in the video that captured some of the incident, this behaviour was unacceptable and it important to remember that a single incident such as this undermines the bravery of hundreds of officers who rush to the protect the public every day.

'PC Crofts' dismissal sends a clear message of the likely consequences should anyone fail to meet the expectations of our very clear Standards of Professional Behaviour.

'I hope the decision today also serves to reassure the public that all incidents of gross misconduct will always be thoroughly investigated and dealt with firmly by the Force.'